5 Reasons St. Joseph, MO, is Perfect for Veterans
From continuing education opportunities to strong community support, this city offers an ideal base for those who have served.
When Maj. Rob Payeur was a teenager, his family moved across Missouri to a small city named St. Joseph. Until that point, he’d grown up in St. Louis, and he imagined he’d move back. Soon, however, he made a decision that would impact much more than his ZIP code: He enlisted.
“At age 17, I joined the 189th Ordnance Company, an Army Reserve unit located in St. Joseph, MO. After six years and a deployment to Iraq, I transferred to the Missouri Air National Guard’s 139th Airlift Wing, which is also located in St. Joseph,” Payeur says. “Now, 22 years after initially joining the military, I am still proudly serving.”
Over the years, Payeur realized how much St. Joseph had to offer. He earned a degree from Missouri Western State University (MWSU), which helped him gain the education necessary to earn his commission as a military officer, and he took on the role of inspector general of the 139th Airlift Wing.
It didn’t take long to see why St. Joseph was an ideal place to advance his career and raise a family.
“After spending time in St. Joseph, I quickly started to appreciate the fact that there wasn’t much traffic, low crime, great people and everything I needed was within a 10-minute drive,” he says. “Also, if I want the big-city entertainment, I can take a quick drive down south to Kansas City and enjoy what it has to offer.”
Beyond that, he saw how the community rallied around those who served, whether they were active-duty personnel or veterans. Ahead, discover five reasons St. Joseph is the perfect place for veterans to put down roots.
In This Article
1. Education Opportunities in St. Joseph, MO
MWSU in St. Joseph is more than just accommodating to veterans. The university offers special opportunities and assistance via its Center for Military & Veterans Services.
“Missouri Western was a great college to attend while also serving in the military. All the professors were understanding of annual training requirements and would work with me if I needed to miss class for military service,” says Payeur, adding that this prepared him for an eventual civilian career in commercial banking and operations management.
Beyond honoring military service and providing a special lounge, the center ensures that veterans can access wrap-around services appropriate to the particular needs of the military-connected population. This includes obtaining college credit for some military training.
“The 139th Airlift Wing occasionally partners with MWSU to conduct classes for our members to help them obtain their Community College of the Air Force degree credits,” Payeur says. “They’ve continued to evolve and provide greater services and benefits to veterans.”
2. Access to Health Care in St. Joseph, MO
Finding health care can sometimes be a challenge for veterans, but in St. Joseph, they have options. The city’s VA clinic offers a range of services, including primary care, women’s health, dermatology, audiology and mental health care. And the clinic boasts a veteran-reported satisfaction score of 95%, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
More comprehensive care is not difficult to access either. The Dwight D. Eisenhower Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Leavenworth, KS, is an option, and many local providers accept government-sponsored insurance plans for veterans and active-duty members.
“If I need a full-service medical center, Fort Leavenworth is just a 40-minute drive,” Payeur says. “Nearly all local providers accept Tricare insurance, so I have never had any issue receiving services.”
3. Sports and Entertainment in St. Joseph, MO
The region has a rich cultural scene that includes everything from restaurants and nightlife to sports and entertainment – and many of these spaces allow veterans and active-duty members to gather.
“The downtown area has a lot of restaurants in old buildings that have been refurbished to have unique atmospheres and views of the city, so it’s always nice grabbing a meal down there,” Payeur says.
Roughly an hour north of Kansas City, St. Joseph is in a prime location to attend professional sporting events. As a fan of the Chiefs, Royals and Sporting KC, Payeur has made the trip many times. But he’s grateful for the numerous fun, family-friendly activities closer to home, as well.
“If I don’t want to drive to KC, there is a new place called Ricky Dean’s that has a ton of great things for families,” he says, including batting cages and blacklight mini golf.
4. Outdoor Activities in St. Joseph, MO
Situated on the banks of the Missouri River, St. Joseph offers a wealth of parks and nature preserves, where residents can take in the beautiful scenery and enjoy the outdoors.
According to the city’s Parks, Recreation & Civic Facilities Department, its park system is made up of approximately 48 parks and miles of parkways and boulevards.
River Bluff Trails Park on the north side of the city provides opportunities for cycling, mountain biking, jogging, hiking, cross-country skiing and simply enjoying nature. And just a brief drive from St. Joseph are multiple state parks, including Big Lake, Lewis and Clark, Wallace and Weston Bend. And if your idea of taking a hike is strolling across a putting green, you’re in luck. St. Joseph boasts courses like Fairview.
“The 139th Airlift Wing hosts an annual golf tournament as well as a league,” Payeur says. “This is great because I enjoy golfing, and it gives members a chance to know each other outside of work.”
5. Community Support Abounds in St. Joseph, MO
Examples of veterans and people in uniform helping the community are abundant, Payeur says. But the city’s civilians return the favor many times over. Local companies value their patrons and employees who have served, and they often offer special discounts and events.
“Restaurants and businesses host good deals for vets on Veterans Day, with a lot of restaurants having free meals,” Payeur says. “(Grocery chain) Hy-Vee, for example, has a free breakfast that I like to attend, as I’ve been able to meet WWII, Korean War and Vietnam veterans that share their stories.”
The community’s support is also reinforced through smaller acts, too. Payeur remembers when a man and his son at the hardware store stopped to help him load his truck with landscaping blocks. These interactions remind him why he chose to make St. Joseph his home.
“When I was 17 years old, people would see me in uniform and thank me for my service … I would simply respond with a polite ‘You’re welcome,’” he says. “As the years have gone by, I have replaced the ‘You’re welcome’ with a ‘Thank you,’ because this city has shown a strong sense of patriotism and support for our military.”
This article was sponsored by the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce.